2024-25 Winter snow Maintenance Program
Before, during and after a snowfall, The City works to keep our roadways, sidewalks, bikeways and pathways safe. Working together is how we keep Calgarians safe and mobile during and after a winter storm – thank you for doing your part and for your patience while we do ours.
The City’s Snow Response
The City of Calgary has crews working 24/7 through the winter to manage snow and ice buildup on our mobility network, including roads, sidewalks and walking and wheeling lanes, pathways and cycle tracks. While we work through winter months to keep you moving, we thought we’d share some tips and tricks to help manage the cold weather months in Calgary.
What happens to the snow that is plowed? What is a windrow?
When we plow a street, snow is pushed towards the curb or parking lane. In Calgary, our roads have been designed as snow storage sites during the colder months. Plowed snow can create a lane of snow pile along the plowed route which can sometimes be difficult to navigate. Crews make efforts to minimizes this buildup around intersections and near bus stops by pushing the snow further down the road. This is also why The City strategically plows snow on residential streets when necessary to ensure a stable snowpack.
Will The City plow my residential street?
During winter months, if your street becomes rutted, The City may perform a technique known as flat-blading, where they scrape a small layer off the top of the snow and ice to smooth out the surface. Crews may also apply material to help address ice buildup.
Is there anything I can do to help minimize rutting during the winter months?
Following a fresh snowfall, you can help even out the snowpack with your winter tires if you forge a new path.
Be a good neighbour, and help each other out.
Practice good winter clearing habits:
If you live or work by a walking/wheeling lane, don’t place the snow in that lane.
Pile snow from your driveway or walkway on your own property (i.e. on your lawn), snow should not be shoveled into the roadway.
Consider clearing wheelchair ramps near your home to help your neighbours on their commute.
Consider clearing the sidewalk next to a laneway exit.
Keep your catch basin clear of snow to help the melt. Gutters and catch basins help our streets carry melted snow away.
If you have an elderly neighbour or someone you know could use a helping hand, consider being a snow angel.
Sidewalk responsibility
Did you know that most sidewalks in Calgary are the responsibility of adjacent property owners and occupants? Calgary winters are more safe and manageable when everyone pitches in to clear snow and ice. Per section 67 of the Street Bylaw, Calgary property owners are required to:
Remove snow and ice – down to bare surface - from public sidewalks bordering their private property within 24 hours of snowfall end. Owners of rental properties are responsible for arranging snow and ice removal when they reside elsewhere.
Remove a minimum width of 1.5 metres of snow and ice – down to bare surface – from a public pathway bordering their property within 24 hours of snowfall end.
How The City’s priority-based snow plan works
The priority snow plan is The City's schedule for clearing snow from public spaces. It's approved by City Council and comes into effect once a snowfall ends city-wide. The plan sets out which roads, sidewalks, bikeways, and pathways our crews will clear, to what extent, and on which day within the seven-day plan. See below for the day-by-day priorities.
During snowfall, before the seven-day plan is activated, crews are preparing equipment and materials and working on major routes. The work on majors includes plowing snow in through lanes and applying anti-icing material to Calgary’s highest-traffic routes.
Day 2
(18 - 36 hours after snowfall end)
Crews spend the next 18 hours of our priority plan focused on high-volume community and transit routes. Priorities include plowing driving lanes/through lanes (not curb or parking lanes) and piling it roadside. Priority 2 routes include:
Major Community and Transit routes. Roads with more than 5000 vehicles per day, such as Kensington Road and Acadia Drive
Intersections and crosswalks controlled by traffic lights
Designated emergency routes (e.g. around hospitals and fire stations)
Bus routes
Roads with on-street bike lanes
Trouble spots
Day 1
(0 - 18 hours after snowfall end)
Crews spend the first 18 hours plowing and clearing snow on Calgary’s busiest routes, which include:
Calgary’s busiest major roadways. Roads with over 20,000 vehicle trips per day, such as Crowchild Trail and Macleod Trail. (Please note: Deerfoot Trail and Stoney Trail are maintained by the Province)
Downtown roads and cycle tracks (walking and wheeling lanes)
Additionally, within 24 hours of snowfall end, The City also clears:
Prioritized pathways
Sidewalks bordering City-owned properties
Pedestrian bridges, vehicle bridges, LRT platforms and other public properties with high-volume foot traffic
Approximately 1,300 high-use bus stops
For a map of priority routes, visit the Snow and Ice Control Priority Routes map.
Priority pedestrian snow clearing
From the time snowfall ends, The City and our contracted partners focus on several active modes, including:
Within 24 hours:
Clearing snow from sidewalks bordering public property
Within priority snow plan:
Reducing windrows at busy crosswalks and wheelchair curb ramps for better access
*The City is responsible for clearing approximately 10 per cent of Calgary sidewalks. Private property owners have the critical job of clearing the remaining 90 per cent, within 24 hours of a snowfall ending. Learn more about the bylaw requirements and escalating fines for failing to maintain a public sidewalk bordering your private property.
Days 3-7
Once crews have completed work on our major routes we shift focus onto other lower volume routes and duties. Work during this stage includes:
Remove barriers of snow and ice at important intersections along major routes
Finishing work on major routes (turn lanes, on/off ramps)
Levelling ruts in residential areas, if needed. Please note, The City does not clear snow from residential streets.
Clearing bus stops and designated feeder/collector routes that connect Priority 2 routes.
Important Links
Calgary.ca/snow – overview of the City of Calgary snow response, including links to pertinent resources and information.
Calgary.ca/snowfines – Information on bylaws related to snow clearing responsibilities on sidewalks.
Snow Clearing Update – status update on The City’s snow clearing efforts, updated regularly through snowfall events and up to 36 hours after snowfall ends.
Road Conditions (Map) – live updating map showing locations of snow plows and their progress on our priority routes. You can also view snow plow names here.
Pathways and Bikeways (Map) – a map of City cleared sidewalks and pathways throughout our mobility network.
Youtube video sharing SNIC overview: Snow & Ice Introduction Video
Canada Post mailbox clearing requests